INTRO MINGLE

[whimsicalism]

WELCOME IN

ORIENTATION DAY

(CW: Slight undertones of experiences of unreality.)

It’s a bright Monday afternoon at the Academy. If the sun happened to be visible, it would certainly be shining. The new semester that everyone has been waiting for is about to begin!

All students wake up at exactly the same time–not that you’re aware of this. Even those who don’t normally sleep must have given into slumber at some point; they, too, will jolt awake with the strangest sensation that someone was just whispering in their ears. The beds that you’ll find yourself in are small and unfamiliar, and you wake up wearing a uniform that you don’t recognize even though it fits you like a glove. A red book with black cardstock lining the inner cover sits on each dorm nightstand. Opening the book reveals a strange code of conduct. The following pages list, in alphabetical order, all of the students.

Beyond the handbook and a change of familiar clothes in the closet, there’s little personalization to the rooms, and they lack most homey comforts. As unusual as these surroundings may seem, it’s impossible to shake the subtle, lingering excitement: It’s the first day of school! What a delightful occasion. Shouldn’t everyone want to make the most of the year? The subtle, unshakeable desire to achieve sits in the back of every mind like the story of a happy dream. Perhaps you brush your hair or wash your teeth before going on with your splendid day. Your reflection in your bathroom mirror looks a little off, did you forget to cut your hair before the big day? Perhaps you realize that your nails or claws have been trimmed recently. A little odd but you must have been excited for a brand new school year.

The world outside the dorm room holds a few more answers, but most things are still shrouded in mystery. Today, it seems that some rooms are still locked up tight from summer vacation. Beside the dormitory and hallways, only the cafeteria, kitchen, gym, playground, school store, and A/V room are accessible. Outside the cafeteria, a digital sign titled DAILY SCHEDULE offers little structure, save for one afternoon event: 5PM - PREFECT’S ORIENTATION - AUDITORIUM. There’s a lot of business to take care of on the first day of school, after all. No one can just be expected to start learning without the proper preparation.

With some time to kill before the promised orientation takes place–and, according to that rulebook, everyone is expected to attend–students have only each other and the various robot sheep for company. With such a small class, perhaps working together will bring you newfound and long-lasting partnerships. The robotic staff seem polite, at least, if a bit confused at the sudden flurry of non-scheduled activities.

How will you spend your first day before classes begin?

OOC NOTES

Welcome to the IC intro mingle for Round 2! Your characters have the afternoon to meet one another, get lunch at the school cafeteria, review their student handbooks, harass the Little Brother robots, and prepare for the upcoming school semester in this post. As promised, the Prefect will meet everyone in the auditorium at 5pm and will post their own introductory comment at that time (Eastern).

While we're sure that some people are dying to get a head start on investigating all of the mysteries of the school (we're excited to reveal them), please hold your investigation comment ideas until the weekly post goes up tomorrow. As all ground floor locations should be open for exploration at that time, we invite everyone to scratch all of your investigation itches on tomorrow's post at noon (also Eastern)! In lieu of investigation threads today, characters may speak to/question/accost the Little Brothers, who have an NPC thread down below.

Thank you, and have fun!

Comments

[panglici]

[Coming from someone with eyes like her own, and those of that strangely tall church-statue-come-to-life older boy... this is interesting.]

"Something that is a gift from God", right? A power most people are afraid of?

[holyironmade]

[It is electric in the moment that the words reach those eyes. Jeanne grabs this other girl's hand and leans in. No one else is there for her. Not Reika, not Kuro, not Yasu.]

Then you are the rarest and most precious kind of all! Who prayed in the church and was answered, as did I.

CW: angry little antitheist having FEELINGS

[panglici]

[Oh. Oh no. She still believes - and of course she does, she's younger, she - if she has hair like that she's plainly lived a kinder life than Carrie has herself, even as her hand is just this side of bony despite its softness. That earnestness and that soft hand holding hers (which must feel callused in comparison), those eyes so bright and so joyful -

She can't meet them for long.

The very pained smile on Carrie's face when she responds, after a flash of outright shock, isn't remotely put-on. It's there for a different reason than anyone reasonable would assume from her words, though.]

My mother and father did, and... well, I suppose I was their answer. He didn't seem to hear them when our neighbors decided they were the kind of witch to murder, but... but I lived, so maybe....

[It was out of reflex that she'd said she hoped that cousin of hers she'd had to give a second death would be able to meet her mother in Heaven. It was an old habit. She didn't want to think about it, she didn't want to wrestle with God, she wanted to forget he was up there placidly watching the world burn.

She bites her lower lip, still looking away.]

[holyironmade]

Then my prayers will also go to your parents.

[Jeanne whispers this as she forms the tiniest tears in the corner of her eyes. There's something about her like a child actress - not insincere, the opposite, that she has a very important job and it includes experiencing emotional responses at the required times. She is trying to beam this response at Carrie, through both her eyes and now both her hands as the second one adds onto the clasp as well. So what if Carrie has held, what is it, a piece of wood? At least there's redder blood in her veins. She's warm.]

They say God works in mysterious ways. [She looks down at their joined hands, frowns, is making a soothing repetitive motion.] I've heard such a story more than once, of a tragedy that strengthened furyoku in the heartbroken survivors. Still, I would rather think of the merciless as ones turned astray by the forces that fight against Him. [Jeanne is lightening up and about ready to let go now. It might seem to the cynical, perspicacious Carrie that Jeanne thinks herself to have proof for some specific, hopeful belief.] I shouldn't say too much this soon, but I hope it won't be a mystery much longer. Let us be the last generation of children hurt.

[panglici]

[Who let this princess out of a fairytale? Who dared throw someone who unquestionably believes that there's a loving Eternal Father somewhere out there and that things happen for a reason out into the real world? Some part of Carrie just wants to stop Jeanne from pulling away, to take her hands and run - to where, she doesn't know, somewhere not here at least. Somewhere that she'll be safe from wolves and men and whatever else is lurking just off the path.

But instead she lets the other girl withdraw, and meets her eyes again when she manages to find her voice.]

I - [and then her voice falters. She can't do it, she can't make herself say something that would even put a scratch on that pure faith. Can't even get out "if", she can't say "if" in the face of that much purity.]

When I pray, it's for exactly that. That no more children will have to suffer. I'm glad someone else agrees that's a worthy goal.

[holyironmade]

[Jeanne's chassis is protected from that doubt. "In church", Jeanne thinks she was about to say, not "if". After all, Carrie on her own struck upon the subtlety "suffer".]

We have many enemies, but let us not dwell upon them. It is much happier to gain an ally!

[She says this both because the full list of the sins of man is inappropriate to recount in front of children, and because Carrie... seems to be dwelling on them anyway? Cheer up, Carrie!]